UFC News
TJ Dillashaw claims he did not benefit from previous PED use, promises to be “a f*cking animal” in UFC return
Harry Kettle - July 19, 2021
Former UFC bantamweight champion TJ Dillashaw has claimed he didn’t benefit from his previous PED use. Back in 2019, Dillashaw was stripped of his 135-pound title and suspended after testing positive for recombinant human erythropoietin (EPO). It came in the midst of his UFC flyweight title defeat to Henry Cejudo, with many questioning whether Dillashaw would even return after his suspension was complete.
Maycee Barber expects to finish Miranda Maverick: "I’m not going out there to play around, I’m planning to put her away"
Cole Shelton - July 19, 2021
Maycee Barber wasn’t surprised when she was offered Miranda Maverick as her next fight. After Maverick beat Gillian Robertson at UFC 260, Barber saw all the posts about how fans wanted to see the fight happen. However, given they are two of the up and comers at flyweight, some thought it didn’t make sense. Yet, for Barber, she says she likes the fight and is eager for it.
Gilbert Burns wants rematch with Kamaru Usman, will fight Jorge Masvidal and Leon Edwards to get there
Adam Martin - July 18, 2021
Gilbert Burns wants a rematch with UFC welterweight champion Kamaru Usman, and says will fight Jorge Masvidal and Leon Edwards to get there. Burns defeated Stephen Thompson at UFC 264 last weekend to bounce back into the win column following a knockout loss to Usman earlier this year at UFC 258. With the win over Thompson, Burns once again cemented himself as one of the elite welterweights in the sport, and following the fight, he called out Masvidal, Edwards, and Nate Diaz for fights.
Logan Paul reveals he had recent phone conversation with UFC president Dana White
Adam Martin - July 18, 2021
YouTuber-turned-boxer Logan Paul revealed that he had a recent phone conversation with UFC president Dana White ahead of last week’s UFC 264. Logan Paul and his brother Jake were both recently in attendance at UFC 264 and they had great seats to the event, thanks to White. Speaking on a recent edition of the IMPAULSIVE podcast, the older Paul revealed that he received a phone call from White the day of the Conor McGregor vs. Dustin Poirier 3 card that was quite surprising, to say the least.
Thiago Moises reacts following loss to Islam Makhachev at UFC Vegas 31: "Islam is an amazing fighter and he was the best guy tonight"
Adam Martin - July 18, 2021
Thiago Moises reacted following a loss to Islam Makhachev at UFC Vegas 31, saying he “is an amazing fighter and he was the best guy tonight.” Moises came into the fight with Makhachev as a massive underdog and although he was able to survive the first three rounds of the fight, he lost in the championship rounds when Moises tapped him out in the fourth. For Moises, the loss snapped his three-fight winning skid, but the 26-year-old Brazilian is not upset about not getting his hand raised. For Moises, just the fact he got the opportunity to compete against one of the best lightweights on the UFC roster and got to have that experience means it was a winning night for him.
What's next for Islam Makhachev and Thiago Moises after UFC Vegas 31?
Cole Shelton - July 18, 2021
In the main event of UFC Vegas 31, rising lightweight contenders met as Islam Makhachev took on Thiago Moises. Makhahcev entered the fight coming off a dominant third-round submission win over Drew Dober back at UFC 259. He has been called a future champion by his protégé Khabib Nurmagomedov and has looked like it so far. Moises, meanwhile, was coming off wins over Alexander Hernandez, Bobby Green, and Michael Johnson.
Miesha Tate issues statement following TKO win over Marion Reneau at UFC Vegas 31: "There’s truly nothing quite like that feeling!!"
Adam D Martin - July 18, 2021
Miesha Tate issued a statement following her win over Marion Reneau at UFC Vegas 31, saying “there’s truly nothing quite like that feeling!!” Tate returned following a five-year layoff due to retiring from mixed martial arts. After starting a family, Tate decided that she wants to make another run for the UFC women’s bantamweight title that she once held. The promotion matched her up against Reneau in her opponent’s final retirement fight. Despite having not fought since 2016, Tate looked absolutely exceptional in the contest as he put away Reneau via third-round TKO.
Ultimate Fighting Championship announces UFC 266 will serve as International Fight Week, including two-day fan experience
Adam D Martin - July 18, 2021
The Ultimate Fighting Championship has announced that UFC 266 will serve as International Fight Week, including a two-day fan experience. UFC 266 takes place on Saturday, September 25 at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada, and the card is headlined by featherweight champion Alexander Volkanovski vs. Brian Ortega. The co-main event sees women’s flyweight champion Valentina Shevchenko take on top contender Lauren Murphy and Nick Diaz returns from a six-year layoff when he faces off against fan-favorite Robbie Lawler in a rematch between two MMA legends.
Islam Makhachev calls out Michael Chandler: “You come from Bellator, I want to check your skills"
Adam D Martin - July 18, 2021
UFC lightweight contender Islam Makhachev called out Michael Chandler, saying that “you come from Bellator, I want to check your skills.” Makhachev defeated Thiago Moises in the main event of UFC Vegas 31 via fourth-round submission, and it was the type of statement win that should earn the No. 9 ranked lightweight in the UFC a step up in competition. Following his win over Moises, Makhachev took the mic and called out Rafael dos Anjos, the former UFC lightweight champion. But in his post-event interview with reporter Heidi Androl, Makhachev used it as an opportunity to call out Chandler, the former Bellator lightweight champion turned UFC fighter and analyst.
Khabib Nurmagomedov outlines plan for Islam Makhachev to be named 2021 fighter of the year
Adam D Martin - July 18, 2021
Former UFC lightweight champion Khabib Nurmagomedov outlined the plan for Islam Makhachev to be named the 2021 fighter of the year in MMA. Makhachev defeated Thiago Moises via fourth-round submission at UFC Vegas 31 on Saturday in what was arguably his coming-out party. Makhachev now has a 9-1 record in the UFC with an eight-fight win streak and he is quickly emerging as one of the best fighters in the division in the post-Nurmagomedov world. In fact, his longtime friend and training partner is so confident in Makhachev’s abilities that he believes he has what it takes to be the fighter of the year in 2021, although he knows it will be an uphill battle.
Drakkar Klose trashes Jeremy Stephens following his fifth straight loss at UFC Vegas 31
Adam D Martin - July 18, 2021
UFC lightweight Drakkar Klose trashed his former rival Jeremy Stephens following his fifth straight loss at UFC Vegas 31. Stephens was submitted in the first round by Mateusz Gamrot when he was taken down to the mat and tapped out with a kimura. For Stephens, this was his fifth straight loss in the UFC. With a No Contest mixed in the losing skid, Stephens is officially on a six-fight winless skid. It’s a bad look for a fighter who has been a mainstay of the UFC roster for nearly the past 15 years, and for the first time in his UFC career it seems like there is a chance that Stephens could be at risk of losing his job, and Klose made sure that he knows just that.
Miesha Tate responds to rematch request from Holly Holm
Adam D Martin - July 18, 2021
Miesha Tate responded to the rematch request from former rival Holly Holm following her win over Marion Reneau at UFC Vegas 31. Tate got back into the win column for the first time in over five years on Saturday night when she defeated Reneau via third-round TKO. For Tate, this was a fantastic win after such a long layoff over a quality opponent in Reneau who was ranked in the top-15 of the UFC women’s bantamweight division. For Tate, the former champion, this is the type of big win she needs in order to start drawing the attention of the other big names in the division, including Holm, who apparently would like the chance to step in the cage with Tate again.